Cornerback Dwight Bentley picked off a pass from North Texas quarterback Riley Dodge intended for Jamaal Jackson and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter Saturday to give the Cajuns an early lead.

That ended UL's streak of 10 consecutive quarters without a score. The Cajuns hadn't scored a touchdown since quarterback Chris Masson's 1-yard pass to Luke Aubrey with five seconds left in the second period of a 17-15 win over Kansas State on Sept. 12. They did not find the end zone in losses at nationally ranked LSU and Nebraska.

Bentley's interception return was the sixth-longest in school history.

  • Luther Perrin had a 105-yard return against Stephen F. Austin in 1934.
  • Ron Irving returned an interception 90 yards against Arkansas State in 1977.
  • Gerald Rooney ran back a pick 83 yards against McNeese State in 1953.
  • Jack Herron (East Texas Baptist in 1950)
  • Michael Adams (Middle Tennessee in 2006) had 79-yard return.

    The rest of the story

    Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 11, 2009